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Supreme Court Takes Up Same-Sex Marriage Cases

Credit Richard Drew / AP

Edith Windsor, 83, is asking the Supreme Court to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. When Windsor's female spouse died, the federal government, acting under DOMA, required Windsor to pay estate taxes that she would not have owed if her spouse had been a man.

By Nina Totenberg

Originally published on Fri December 7, 2012 10:50 pm

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The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that for the first time it will tackle the issue of same-sex marriage. Defying most expectations, the justices said they will examine two cases, presenting the possibility that the court could decide all the basic issues surrounding same-sex marriage in one fell swoop.

4:49 pm

Fri December 7, 2012

More Teachers 'Flipping' The School Day Upside Down

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Credit Grace Hood / KUNC

High school sophomore Jessica Miller watches her chemistry teacher's lectures on an iPad. Class time is used for working through problems and quizzes, rather than lecturing.

Credit Grace Hood / KUNC

Jessica goes over her work with teacher Jennifer Goodnight. Goodnight says "flipping" her class has improved students' test scores.

By Grace Hood

Originally published on Thu December 13, 2012 8:12 am

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Welcome to the 21st century classroom: a world where students watch lectures at home — and do homework at school. It's called classroom flipping, and it's slowly catching on in schools around the country.

When Jessica Miller, a high school sophomore in rural Bennett, Colo., sits down to do her chemistry homework, she pulls out her notebook. Then she turns on an iPad to watch a video podcast. Whenever the instructor changes the slide, Miller pauses the video and writes down everything on the screen.

4:44 pm

Fri December 7, 2012

Damascus Airport Becomes A Target In Syria's War

Credit Louai Beshara / AFP/Getty Images

Syrian rebels say they now consider the Damascus International Airport to be part of the battle zone in their fight against Syria's government. Here, a U.N. vehicle is unloaded at the airport on May 12.

By editor

Originally published on Fri December 7, 2012 7:00 pm

Syrian rebels declared the Damascus International Airport a "military zone" on Friday as part of their push to seize important symbolic and strategic locations held by President Bashar Assad's government.

Rebels say the airport is a camp for Syrian government soldiers and is the main transit point for weaponry believed to be supplied by Russia and Iran.

4:40 pm

Fri December 7, 2012

Syria's Chemical Weapons Include Sarin, Mustard Gas

By editor

Originally published on Fri December 7, 2012 10:50 pm

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This week President Obama warned Syrian President Bashar Assad not to use his chemical weapons stockpile. Melissa Block talks with former weapons inspector Charles Duelfer about what weapons Syria possesses and how they can be used.

Middle East

4:40 pm

Fri December 7, 2012

Hamas Leader Visits Gaza Strip For The First Time

By Philip Reeves

Originally published on Fri December 14, 2012 8:14 am

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AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

We go overseas now to the Gaza Strip, where the leader of Hamas visited today for the first time. Palestinians are still cleaning up after last month's ferocious week-long fight with Israel. Khaled Mashaal's visit to the Hamas-ruled strip is being seen as both symbolic and politically significant. NPR's Philip Reeves is in Gaza and reports the Hamas leader got a hero's welcome.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Foreign language spoken)

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4:53 pm

Fri December 7, 2012